Safety device



July 6, 1954 Filed Oct. 9, 19

J. NICKLE SAFETY DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jm'msou NmKLs' evAZm M W A 7' TOQNE Y Jul 6, 1954 Filed Oct. 9, 1953 l I A J. NICKLE SAFETY DEVICE 'I/IIIIIIL I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll "Hun l /NVENTOQ Janus! NIcKLG' ab/1&5, 4 9

ATTORNEY Patented July 6, 1954 OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE Johnson Nickle, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Application October 9, 1953, Serial No. 385,205

- 1 Claim. 1 7 p This device relates generally to safety apparatus and more particularly to a safety device for drilling rig to prevent the travelling block from being pulled into the crown block on top of the derrick by the draw works.

It is an object of this device to provide apparatus that may be installed at any point around the cable drum of the draw works and, when installed, it is adjustable to a desired point on the cable drum.

An additional object is to provide a safety device that is actuated by the cable that is being coiled around the cable drum.

A further object is to provide a device that will be actuated by the cable being coiled around the drum in either direction.

A still further object is to provide a device that will not be damaged should the cable not spool properly on the cable drum.

A still further object is to provide a safety device that is actuated by the cable being coiled in layers on the cable drum and, when actuated, will return automatically to the pre-actuated position when the cable is unwound from the cable drum.

Various other objects and advantages of this device will become obvious to those skilled in the art on reading the following specification in the light of the attached drawings. It must be understood that the information disclosed therein is by way of example and illustration only and is not to be construed as a limitation. The invention herein is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claim and by the prior art.

In the drawings wherein only one preferred embodiment of theinventive idea is illustrated Figure 1 is a view in isometric projection illustrating the safety device mounted in position over a cable drum of a draw works.

Figure 2 is a broken-away view, enlarged and partly in section to illustrate the internal mechanism of the safety device.

Figure 3 is a broken-away reduced end view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1.

With reference now to the drawings and particularly Figure 1, there will be seen the draw works drum designated by the numeral on which the cable 2 is being wound. The draw works drum is of conventional design and obviously would be provided with a suitable power source, clutch and braking mechanisms which have been omitted from the drawings in the interests of clarity. Reference will be made later in the specification to the actuation of the draw against the valve seat 2|.

works clutch and brake mechanism and it must be understood that this is the conventional clutch and brake mechanism commonly found on draw work assemblies. The safety device is designated generally by the numeral 3 and reference to Figure 1 will illustrate how the safety device is suspended over the drum I by the bracket 4 which is adapted to operate slideably along the longitudinal members 5, 5, of the supporting framework. The longitudinal members 5; 5 are supported in position above the draw works drum by the vertical supports 6, 6.

Reference to Figure 2 in the drawings will illustrate the internal construction of the safety device designated generally by the numeral 3 in Figures 1 and 3. The safety device comprises the ball 9 mounted freely at the lower end of the housing 1 and contained therein by the ball seat 8. The ball 9 is provided with the finger l0 protruding downwardly therefrom and the finger It has the extension [I engaged threadably thereon. Within the housing 7 the ball 9 is provided with the depression l3 in which the second ball I2 is seated.

The second ball I 2 is adapted to move freely vertically within the housing 7 and, as stated heretofore, rests normally in the depression IS in the top of the ball 9. a 7

Immediately above the second ball l2 in the housing is located the valve M which is springloaded by the spring I! to rest normally against the valve seat 2|. Suitable 0 rings I5 and I6 are provided to ensure the airtight fit of the valve A guide for the valve I4 is provided by the cap It at the top of the housing 1.

The air inlet to the housing 1 is provided at l9 while the air outlet is provided at 213 and it will be obvious that air would pass from the inlet l9 through the housing and out through the outlet 20 whenever the valve I4 is raised from the valve seat 2|. Raising of the valve I4 from the valve seat 2| is accomplished whenever the ball 9 is rotated within its seat by a lateral pressure against the finger I6. It will be obvious that any movement of the ball 9 within the ball seat 8 will force the second ball l2 out of the depression l3 against the lower end of the valve M and raise the valve I4 upwardly in the housing 1 and away from the valve seat 2|. Elevation of the valve 4 from the valve seat 2| will allow air pressure to pass through the housing 1 from the air inlet H! to the air outlet 20. Air from the outlet 20 is then led by the pipe 22 (seen in Figure 1) to a suitable air cylinder which will open an additional valve and release further air to set the master clutch on the draw works and then to a second suitable cylinder to set the air brakes on the cable drum.

Reference to the drawings and particularly to Figure 2 therein will illustrate the cable 2 being wound on the cable drum and it will be obvious immediately how the winding of this cable on the drum will act against the finger 10 to rotate the ball 9 within its housing 8.

What I claim as my invention is:

In combination with the cable drum of a drilling rig draw works, such cable drum having air operated clutch and brake mechanisms; a safety device for controlling the air supply to the said clutch and brake mechanisms comprising a casing having an inlet port leading to the. said air supply and an outlet port leading to the, said clutch and brake mechanisms; an airtight valve controlling the passage of air through the said casing from the said inlet port to the said outlet port; a spring adapted to hold the said valve normally in the closed position; a ball mounted universally in the said casing; a finger fixed to the said ball and projecting outside the said casing; a depression in the surface of the said ball Within the said casing; a second ball positioned freely within the said casing and adapted to rest normally in the said depression in the first named ball, such second named ball being further adapted to move within the said casing to actuate the said valve, on rotation of the first named ball in its universal mounting; means for supporting the said safety device over the said cable drum with the said finger in the path of cable being wound on the said drum.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,109,373 Truran Sept. 1, 1914 2,502,710 Duncan Apr. 4, 1950 2,530,766 Halderman Nov. 21, 1950 2,659,514 Crookston Nov. 17, 1953 2,659,575 Seljos Nov. 17, 1953 

